A LEVEL FINE ART

ANALYSING DRAWINGS

For the purposes of this analysis sheet, drawings will include any black and
white 2D images.

Name the artist, give the date and title of the piece and identify the media
(pencil, graphite, charcoal, conte crayon, ink, lithograph, drypoint, etching,
woodblock etc.). Is the artist part of an art movement? If so, how has this
influenced the way they have produced this image?
Do not guess any of the above, if you research the artist and their
work using books and reputable websites this kind of information will be
available.

● Does the piece have a subject matter (only talk about this if it is
significant and remember, some pieces will not have a subject matter)?
● Is the image figurative/representational (has the artist attempted to
portray an object, person or scene, however loosely or inaccurately)?
● Is the image abstract (has the artist used marks and forms without
trying to represent an object, person or scene)?

Remember, sometimes an image will include both figurative elements and

abstract marks and forms.
How has the artist used line in this piece?
● Do certain directions of line predominate (horizontal, vertical,
diagonal)?
● Are the lines: - delicate, light, fragile, sensitive, soft, thin? Or: -
strong, heavy, forceful, emphatic, firm, energetic, vigorous, aggressive,
thick?
● Are the lines: - controlled, precise, accurate, detailed, meticulous? Or:
- loose, gestural, free, expressive, impulsive, spontaneous?
● Is the image purely a line drawing, in which lines describe outline,
form, shape and volume?

How has the artist used tone?

● Has the artist used shading or cross hatching to create tone and
texture (the artist may have used a combination of lines and shading)?
● If tone has been used is the image mainly dark, mainly light or a
combination of various tones?
● Does the use of tone (shadows, highlights, variations in tone etc.), help
to give form to the subject matter?
● Does the use of tone affect the mood of the image?

Describe the composition (the way in which the various elements of the
image have been arranged)
● Does it have a focal point (how has the artist done this?) or are all
areas of the composition equally important?
● Is the composition: - complex, simple, balanced, symmetrical or
asymmetrical?
● Can you see evidence of the rule of thirds?
● Does the image have a foreground, middleground or background giving
an illusion of depth or is the image flat?
● Has the artist used actual shapes or implied shapes to create the
composition?
● Is pattern (the repetition of shapes, lines, tones, textures etc.) an
important part of the composition?

Remember, as well as analysing the artist’s work you should try to describe
how their use of materials and techniques have influenced your own work. Do
this in your sketchbook and try to include examples of your own drawings and
experiments.
Some useful websites:

tate.org.uk – website of the four Tate Galleries in the U.K. The glossary section
has lots of information about art terms, artists, techniques and movements.
moma.org – website of the Museum of Modern Art in New York where you can
browse their collection and access good information about artists and movements